Civil War historian to speak at local roundtable: Around The Town

Updated on Aug 31, 2018 at 07:32 PM EDT

George Rolleston, president of the Western Reserve Civil War roundtable, said there are likely to be area residents who are not aware of the group's existence, but who might like to join CWRT if they knew about it

T
he first Civil War Roundtable was established in 1941, in Chicago. Since that time, hundreds more such groups have come into existence across the United States.

The
Western Reserve CWRT
-- founded by the late William Mahoney, a family doctor who had a practice in Olmsted Falls -- has provided a forum for area residents interested in the various aspects of the war since 1965.

The Berea-based roundtable meets at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month between September and May.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Colony Room at Baldwin Wallace University's Strosacker Hall, 120 E. Grand St. in Berea.

A buffet dinner will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by guest speaker, author
Janet Croon
, at 7:30 p.m.

Croon will give a talk as editor of a new book, "The War Outside My Window: The Diary of Leroy Wiley Gresham: 1860-65."

Cost is $25 for the buffet dinner, or $5 to attend the speaker's presentation only.

Annual CWRT memberships are $30 for individuals and $40 for couples.

Western Reserve CWRT President George Rolleston said the roundtable seeks to reach out to southwest suburban residents who have a love of history and who would like to meet and talk about Civil War history.

"We have about 35 members, with more than a fourth of them being women," Rolleston said, explaining that the group also sponsors monthly book raffles to raise Civil War preservation funds.

"Over the years, the group has raised more than $16,500 in donations dedicated towards the preservation of Civil War sites," he said.

Midpark 50th reunion:
The Midpark High School class of 1968 will have its 50-year reunion Sept. 7-9.

A mixer will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 7 at Brew Garden, 16555 SouthPark Center Mall in Strongsville.

Cost is $10 per person and includes light snacks. A full bar and food services will be available for individual purchase.

The class reunion will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 8 at Middleburg Heights Community Center, 16000 Bailey Road in Middleburg Heights.

This is a BYOB, casual dress event. Cost is $68 per person. A buffet supper will be provided by Santo's Pizza & Pasta, 7565 Pearl Road. The event will feature a DJ, photo booth and memory boards.

A family potluck will begin at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Middleburg Heights Community shelter, 16000 Bagley Road.

No cost is involved, just bring a dish to share.

Please contact Cheryl Early at 216-267-6486 or email cheryle417@gmail.com.

Also, if residents haven't noticed, please look up and see the new banners being displayed along Brook Park's major streets, courtesy of the Beautification & Pride Committee.

Thanks, volunteers:
A beautification project is under way in the area around the Brook Park Recreation Center, 17400 Holland Road, thanks to the hard work of volunteers including Fran Banek, Barbara Warny and Peggy Giammarco.

The Brook Park Beautification and Pride Committee welcomes new members. Meetings are at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month.

History flashback:
The Middleburg Heights Historical Society is back after a short summer break, with an entertaining program at 7 p.m. Sept. 4, "Middleburg Heights, Now and Then."

A video featuring photos of Middleburg now and how it looked a half-century ago will be featured.

"We are hoping many people will join us and share their memories of old Middleburg with us, or just come and enjoy the evening," Middleburg Heights Historical Society President Rose Conley said.

Conley has also extended an invitation to anyone with old photos of the city of Middleburg Heights to "please bring them along."

"One memory I hope someone will have is of the Peter Pan Restaurant that used to be at Southland (shopping center)," she said.

Annual potluck:
The Middleburg Heights Women's Club will host its annual potluck at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Middleburg Heights Community Center, 1600 East Bagley Road.

Using the following guide, please bring a dish to share: A-F Casserole, G-L Salad, M-R Vegetable and S-Z Dessert.

This event is the first meeting of the school year for LINK, a group founded in 1997 by parents that aims to "link" parents, students, educators and others in support of gifted and able learners in the Berea City School District.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Middleburg Heights pantry:
The Middleburg Heights Food Pantry at 7000 Paula Drive is open to serve clients from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

SCAN has regular hours:
The
SCAN
Hunger Pantry, 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite 7, in Berea, has regular hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and from 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month.

Contact SCAN by phone at 440-260-7226.

Please email information (people photos, too. include ID's) on items you'd like to see included in this column to richatsun@gmail.com.